The Cheapest Arizona Health Insurance for Individuals and Families
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Unless you qualify for government programs like Medicaid or Medicare, or if your employer provides medical coverage, you’ll have to enroll in a private plan through Arizona’s Health Insurance Marketplace. There are many plans to choose from across the different metal tiers, which have varying costs. Plans with lower premiums typically cost more out of pocket when you need medical care, as they have higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maxes.
Comparing the different plans available in the Arizona Insurance Marketplace, MoneyGeek determined the cheapest health insurance in Arizona for different ages and plan types, which should simplify your search for a suitable health insurance plan.
The Cheapest Health Insurance in Arizona by Metal Tier
Arizona health insurance plans fall into different categories called metal levels or tiers. The tiers affect how you and your insurance provider divide medical expenses, but they do not impact the quality of care you receive.
You can choose between Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold plans in the Arizona Insurance Exchange. Plans from less valuable metals, such as Bronze, require a lower monthly premium but cost more out of pocket when you need medical care. The cost of health insurance in Arizona differs across the tiers, but on average, their monthly premiums are:
- Catastrophic: $369
- Bronze: $404
- Expanded Bronze: $418
- Silver: $504
- Gold: $669
Depending on the amount of medical care you require, the best health insurance plan for you in Arizona may vary. Going for a Gold plan may be cheaper for some people — although you pay a higher premium, you’ll also pay less out of pocket since your insurance provider will cover a larger share of your medical costs.
The cheapest plan based on the monthly premium for each metal tier is shown in the table below. If you check out available plans in Arizona’s Health Insurance Marketplace, you’ll notice a wide range between metal tiers regarding premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions (CSR), Silver plans are a great deal since the deductibles are considerably lower. Families and individuals with low incomes may be eligible for this.
Moneygeek used a 40-year-old male’s sample profile to determine premiums for HMO plans — the most common type of policy in Arizona.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Arizona by Metal Tier
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- Metal TierPlanCompanyMonthly CostOOP Max
- CatastrophicBlue SimpleHealth - PimaFocus NetworkBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona$246$8,550
- BronzeCigna Connect 8550Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc$347$8,550
- Expanded BronzeBlue AdvanceHealth Bronze - PimaFocus NetworkBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona$260$8,550
- SilverBlue AdvanceHealth Silver - PimaFocus NetworkBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona$330$7,750
- GoldBlue EverydayHealth Gold - PimaFocus NetworkBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona$440$6,750
The Cheapest Health Insurance in Arizona by Age and Metal Tier
Aside from the plan’s tier, insurance carriers consider other factors when setting premiums. When you enroll in a health care plan, your age can have a major impact on the cost of health insurance in Arizona.
There is an average $600+ difference in price between HMO plans for 26-year-olds and 60-year-olds. A Silver plan for a 26-year-old buyer costs $404 per month on average. In comparison, a 60-year-old buyer pays an average of $1,070 per month for a policy in the same metal tier.
Health Insurance Costs in Arizona by Age and Metal Tier
The cost of health insurance in Arizona is directly proportional to your age, meaning premiums are likely to be higher when you’re older. Getting a plan from lower tiers such as Bronze or Expanded Bronze may result in a lower monthly premium, but you may end up spending more because of these plans’ high deductibles.
These plan prices are only based on sample profiles. They don’t use information specific to you — such as your income and exact age. They also don’t account for tax premiums or other programs for which older people may be eligible, making their premiums more affordable. The best way to get an exact quote is to apply for a plan.
You can use the table below to switch between the buyer’s age and metal tiers. In addition, you can read MoneyGeek’s guide on health insurance in Arizona to help you decide which metal tier you prefer.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Arizona by Age And Metal Tier
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- PlanCompanyMonthly Rate
- CatastrophicHMOBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona$176
- CatastrophicHMOOscar Health Plan, Inc.$206
- CatastrophicHMOBright Health$215
- CatastrophicHMOBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona$219
- CatastrophicHMOBlue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona$299
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The Cheapest Health Insurance in Arizona by County
Most states have rating areas used by insurance providers to calculate premiums, so where you live affects the cost of health insurance in Arizona. Similarly, counties follow the same process when setting premiums within these rating areas.
Arizona has 15 counties divided across seven rating areas. The cheapest health insurance plan in Arizona’s most populous county (Maricopa County) is Oscar Silver Saver 2, with an average premium of $381 per month. You can purchase this plan from Oscar Health Plan, Inc.
If you want to see the cheapest health insurance plan in Arizona by county, you can use the table below.
All plans are for a 40-year-old male purchasing a health insurance plan in the various counties in Arizona.
Cheapest Health Insurance Plans in Arizona by County
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- Metal TierCompanyCheapest PlanMonthly Premium
- MohaveCatastrophicBlue Cross Blue Shield of ArizonaBlue SimpleHealth - Neighborhood Network$462
- CoconinoCatastrophicBlue Cross Blue Shield of ArizonaBlue SimpleHealth - Neighborhood Network$462
- ApacheCatastrophicBlue Cross Blue Shield of ArizonaBlue SimpleHealth - Neighborhood Network$462
- NavajoCatastrophicBlue Cross Blue Shield of ArizonaBlue SimpleHealth - Neighborhood Network$462
- YavapaiCatastrophicBlue Cross Blue Shield of ArizonaBlue SimpleHealth - Neighborhood Network$447
The Cheapest Health Insurance in Arizona With High Out-of-Pocket Maxes
If you’re young and don’t need a lot of medical care, getting a low-cost plan with a high out-of-pocket maximum can be a cheap health insurance option in Arizona. In a situation where you need medical attention, you may pay more out of pocket, but the savings come from the low monthly premium.
MoneyGeek looked at plans with out-of-pocket maximums of $8,250 and above, finding the cheapest policy to be Blue SimpleHealth - PimaFocus Network. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona offers this plan to 26-year-old buyers for a premium of $197 per month.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Based on MoneyGeek’s assessment, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona offers the cheapest health insurance plan in Arizona with high out-of-pocket maximums. It is a Catastrophic plan, however, and is not available for everyone.
To qualify for a Catastrophic plan, you either have to be below 30 or have a hardship or affordability exemption. These plan types are an inexpensive way to ensure you have protection for worst-case scenarios such as getting severely sick or injured, but you’ll have to pay for routine medical expenses yourself.
The Cheapest Health Insurance in Arizona With Low Out-of-Pocket Maximums
Health plans with low out-of-pocket maxes may be something to consider if your medical expenses are higher than the average person’s. Having a low out-of-pocket maximum means you’ll reach your limit sooner since you routinely pay for doctor’s visits and prescription drugs, causing your insurance to cover costs earlier than other plans. The trade-off is the premium — these plans normally cost more per month.
For 40-year-old buyers, the most affordable health insurance in Arizona with a low out-of-pocket maximum comes from Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health. They offer the Ambetter Balanced Care 25 HSA plan for an average monthly premium of $483.
MoneyGeek considers plans as having low out-of-pocket maximums if they have limits below $4,250. Though its out-of-pocket maximum goes beyond the threshold, this plan has the lowest out-of-pocket maximum and the lowest premium.
Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health
Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health offers the most affordable health insurance in Arizona with low out-of-pocket maximums. Although most of these fall in the Gold tier, the Ambetter Balanced Care 25 HSA is a Silver plan. Compared to the premiums of Bronze or Expanded Bronze plans, you pay more each month. Having a low out-of-pocket max, however, means that your insurance coverage also kicks in earlier.
Cheapest HMO Health Insurance Plan in Arizona
There are several types of plans available for health coverage. Your medical needs and preferences will determine the appropriate plan for you.
HMO or Health Maintenance Organization plans are the most common type of health insurance in Arizona. These tend to be more affordable than other plan types. It’s a good option if you can easily reach in-network providers since you must stay within your provider network to ensure the services are covered.
The cheapest HMO Silver plan in Arizona is Blue AdvanceHealth Silver - PimaFocus Network provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, costing an average of $330 per month.
Cheapest Plan in Arizona With an HSA
If you don’t go to the doctor frequently, you may want to consider a Health Savings Account or an HSA. These are plans with low monthly premiums, which typically equates to having fewer services covered, but HSAs allow you to make pre-tax contributions. You can save this money to serve as a nest egg if you’re in good health and don’t need to spend it for healthcare expenses.
HSA plans are available for both Expanded Bronze and Silver tiers. The cheapest health insurance in Arizona for each are:
- Cheapest HSA Expanded Bronze: Blue Portfolio HSA Bronze - PimaFocus Network provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona costs an average of $302
- Cheapest HSA Silver: Ambetter Balanced Care 25 HSA by Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health costs an average of $483
Despite the possible savings you can earn with HSA plans, there’s a risk that you may have to use a portion of it if you encounter major medical expenses.
What to Know About Health Insurance in Arizona
MoneyGeek used private plan data to complete its analysis. Applying for a plan on the Arizona Insurance Exchange may give you even cheaper rates as providers consider other personal information in addition to age and income, such as tobacco use. Residents of Arizona who are seniors or have lower incomes may find themselves eligible for Medicaid or Medicare. These government health programs are likely more affordable than private plans in the Marketplace.
Private Health Insurance on the Arizona Marketplace
The Health Insurance Marketplace offers private health insurance plans divided into five levels or tiers. Each tier is named after precious metal. The more valuable the metal, the more expensive the monthly premium usually is.
To help you better understand the metal tiers available in Arizona, here is an overview that briefly describes each:
Catastrophic – Catastrophic plans are not available to everyone. You either have to be under 30 or have hardship or affordability exemptions to be eligible. These plans have very high deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums but will cost you the least amount of money per month. Although they protect you from unforeseen situations, like getting severely sick or injured, routine medical expenses aren’t covered.
Bronze – Bronze plans are widely available health insurance options since there are no standards that you have to meet. Compared to other metal tiers, Bronze plans have lower premiums but will cost you more out of pocket if you need medical care. Once you’ve finished your deductibles or hit your out-of-pocket max, Bronze plans require insurance providers to shoulder around 60% of your health expenses.
Expanded Bronze – Expanded Bronze plans offer the same advantages as a Bronze plan. The main difference is they require carriers to pay up to 65% of medical costs.
Silver – If you qualify for “extra savings” that can save you thousands of dollars per year, purchasing a Silver plan is a good option. Regarding possible costs, Silver plans have lower premiums than Gold ones but lower deductibles than Bronze and Expanded Bronze policies.
Gold – Considered one of the high metal tiers, Gold plans cost more per month than Bronze and Silver policies. Purchasing a Gold plan allows around 80% of your medical expenses to be covered by your insurance carrier once your policy kicks in.
Your income level can help you find more affordable health insurance in Arizona. Premium tax credits are possible if your income falls between 100% to 400% of the federal poverty line. In Arizona, that applies to a two-person household earning between $17,420 and $69,680 each year. You can use the HealthCare.gov calculator to compute possible savings.
Between November and December of each year, you can enroll in a new health insurance plan in Arizona or renew your existing one — referred to as open enrollment. Due to COVID-19, however, enrollment dates have been extended.
Two-person households with an annual income amounting to between $24,040 and $43,550 can get cost-sharing reductions or CSRs, which apply if a family earns between 138% and 250% of the federal poverty line. This means it’s possible to have Gold plan coverage while paying a premium closer to that of a Silver policy.
Medicaid in Arizona
It’s smart to check if you qualify for Medicaid, one of the health programs provided by the government. Arizona is a Medicaid expansion state, which means your eligibility for the program depends solely on your income. If you earn less than 138% of the federal poverty line, you will automatically qualify and get health coverage without paying anything.
Medicare in Arizona
The other government program you could be eligible for is Medicare. Unlike Medicaid, Medicare requires you to pay for your coverage. To qualify for Medicare, you need to be 65 or older. If you’re younger, you can get Medicare if you have a qualifying illness or disability.
Medicare has separate parts designed to cover varying services. These are:
- Part A: Part A covers medical costs from in-patient hospital stays, hospice care or care in a skilled nursing facility.
- Part B: This covers medical costs from doctor’s services, medical supplies and outpatient care.
- Part D: Part D covers medical costs from prescription drugs and recommended shots or vaccines.
Methodology
MoneyGeek's research is based on estimates, and the cheapest plan for you will depend on your individual needs and characteristics. This analysis is intended to serve as a guide and no single plan is guaranteed to be the cheapest in Arizona for you
MoneyGeek collected plans and premiums for health insurance in Arizona from the Health Insurance Exchange Public Use Files (Exchange PUFs) for all available metal tiers and across several age groups.
Health insurance premiums on this page are an estimate and exclude potential premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies that users may be eligible for.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
sources
- HealthCare.gov. "Health Insurance Marketplace." Accessed June 14, 2021.
- HealthCare.gov. "How Insurance Companies Set Premiums." Accessed June 14, 2021.